Running With Scissors: The Audreycore Summer Edit
- Vivian St. Clair
- Jun 16
- 4 min read
Pieces Worthy of a Waistline (and Your Dignity)
“Oh look. Fashion has remembered it owns a spine.”Polka dots? Gingham? Tailored waistlines and real structure?Imagine that — silhouettes that don’t require a dissertation to understand.And plaids… darling, plaid is having its revenge arc, and no, not the oversized hipster flannels. I mean grown woman plaid. The kind you wear when meeting a lover’s mother and casually making her feel underdressed.Funny, isn’t it? The moment I mention elegance making a comeback, certain publications suddenly remember gingham exists.Of course they agree with me. Eventually, they always do.
Enter: Audreycore
This season, we’re not chasing trends. We’re resurrecting Audreycore, or was it such a thing? Never you mind because it is now. You are welcome. Audreycore: a refusal to dress like a blurry moodboard and start dressing like you actually exist in the real world.Think silk scarves. Structured waists. Capris that flatter, not flail. Gingham that whispers wealth. Polka dots that don’t giggle. Audreycore isn’t retro. It’s respect. For your shape. For your presence. For the room you command when you enter.
The Power Dot
For the woman who knows that charm isn’t accidental. It’s intentional. Sophisticated polka dots only. No Minnie Mouse. No irony. If you want to look like an adult with style and not a cartoon, start here.
The Splurge Naira Dress, Reformation – $278
Vivian’s Verdict: “This is the kind of dress you wear when there’s a chance you’ll run into an ex, or a future. Bonus points for being sustainable fashion.”
The Steal
Vivian’s Verdict: “Proof that affordability and elegance are not mutually exclusive, just rarely seen together.”
Revenge of the Plaid
Vivian-approved plaid pieces: blazers, dresses, wrap skirts. Wear it like you’ve got property in the Hamptons and no time for games.
The Splurge
Anthropologie Avec Les Filles Plaid Blazer - Was $168, now $99.95
Vivian’s Verdict: “This is the jacket you throw over your shoulders when you're running late to a gallery opening, but still stop traffic on Madison Avenue. Unbothered elegance in one perfect square.”
The Steal
Ashley Stewart Yellow Plaid Blazer - $23.79
Matching vest, pants, and skirt available.
Vivian’s Verdict: “This plaid isn’t here to whisper. It’s here to take meetings and cause whispers. Channel your inner boss with a hint of Clueless energy and none of the confusion.”
Tailored Glory
Cinched waists. Sharp lines. Clean cuts. Fashion isn’t supposed to hug you like a bean bag. Let it shape you.
The Splurge
Vivian’s Verdict: “This vest is not fashion. It’s architecture. You wear this to remind the room that your last name doesn’t require explanation, simply enunciation.”
The Steal
H&M Tailored Suit Vest - $11.99
Vivian’s Verdict: “If the splurge is Fifth Avenue, this is Upper East Side "thrift" and we love her for it. Style it with clean slacks and a cold expression.”
Gingham, But Grown
Clean gingham. Muted tones. Polished cuts. This isn’t a picnic. It’s a statement.
The Splurge
Vivian’s Verdict: “These trousers say ‘yes, I read the Wall Street Journal and handwritten love letters.’ Equal parts structured and soft.”
The Steal
Vivian’s Verdict: “She’s relaxed but ready. Pair with a crisp white blouse and a smirk that says, ‘You just realized I’m your boss.’”
Shoes That Don’t Apologize
Kitten heels. Slingbacks. Structured sandals. Leave the platform Crocs to people who still call trends ‘aesthetic.’
The Splurge
Vivian’s Verdict: “For the woman who wants to be remembered before she says a word. Equal parts Upper East Side and dangerous liaison.”
The Steal
Vivian’s Verdict: “This is the kind of shoe you buy in secret, then wear like it was custom made in Milan, and no one’s allowed to ask.”
Audreycore Essentials:
I understand not everyone was raised with taste — or time. So, as a courtesy, I’ve compiled a checklist. Not a trend forecast. A correction. These are the staples that whisper elegance from across a room and never expire with the season. Refer to it. Print it. Etch it into your mirror. Whatever it takes to leave the house looking like you have a plan.
Vivian’s Final Checklist
Oversized black sunglasses
Straw or wide-brimmed hat with structure
Silk scarf (cream, blush, or paisley)
Kitten heels or slingbacks
Gingham or polka dot midi dress
Fitted vest or button-down
Clean lines, crisp collars, no logos
Red lipstick or none at all (never in between)
A hardcover book that isn’t just for the photo
Confidence, eye contact, and a schedule too full for drama
Audreycore isn’t a trend. It’s a return to discipline. A quiet undoing of excess, irony, and performative fashion fatigue. You won’t see me promoting chaos wrapped in lace or shoes designed to insult the calf. What you’ll find here are garments that know their job: to frame the woman, not upstage her.
I’m not here to join what’s trending. The trend, as usual, has come crawling back to me.
That’s all.
Comentarios